Lumbar stenosis surgery: "recalibrage" according to Senegas.

In the treatment of lumbar stenosis the method known as "recalibrage" proposed by Senegas is the most recent alternative to extended traditional laminectomy. Posterior decompression, which is obtained by removal of the cephalic half of the laminae, the yellow ligaments and the intraforaminal part of the facet joint, reduces the risk of postsurgical instability and makes it possible to proceed with fusion which is not just posterolateral. In cases where there is intersegmental instability we applied the Hartshill rectangle, proposed by Doce, stabilized to the residual laminar and associated with genous grafting. Our experience is based on 48 cases treated with this method over the last three years. In 19 cases Hartshill fixation was used to complete "recalibrage". Results are generally satisfactory, although follow-up is short. The "relative gain" method proposed by Lassale and Garcon was used for evaluation.